The poor owners submit

Stuff reports:

Owners of the Titirangi site, John Lenihan and Jane Greensmith, have released an open letter stating they will not cut down the trees.

“Over the past few days we have been overwhelmed with the agendas of council, politicians, protesters, and so on.

“We were quite normally private people but now we have been dragged into being public figures.”

“Let the trees stay including the kauri which we have been calling 500, and the rimu called 300. It doesn’t matter how old they are as they now need to stay. Some other trees might have to go – this is the compromise bit, but let’s keep it to a minimum.”

This couple are the ones whose rights have been trampled on. They did nothing wrong, but ended up in the middle.

This is our Plan – Architects call it a design solution;

1. Let the trees stay including the Kauri which we have been calling 500, and the Rimu called 300. It doesn’t matter how old they are as they now need to stay. Some other trees might have to go – this is the compromise bit, but let’s keep it to a minimum.  Trees grow faster than you all think. Our wise elderly neighbor reckons the Kauri “500”  is only 70 years old like him.

The claim to be 500 years old seems dubious.